How to enable remote access for a NetGear WGR614 wireless router

Remote access provides you with the ability to monitor and configure your router's settings from any computer with Internet access.  Enabling remote access opens your network up to possible security threats, but for users who require access to their router's settings when they are away from the network (such as network technicians) it allows a greater degree of control.

To enable remote access on a NetGear WGR614 wireless router, open up a web browser and type the router's IP address into the address bar.  (By default, the IP address is 192.168.1.1.  If you don't know the IP address, this article will help you find it.)  If asked to log in, enter the user name and password set up for the router.  If these have never been changed, the default values are "admin" for the user name and "password" for the password.  If you are going to enable remote access, it's a good idea to change the user name and password from the defaults, if you haven't done so already.

When the NetGear Smart Wizard loads, scroll down on the sidebar until you see the Advanced section, and beneath that heading, click on Remote Management.  The Remote Management screen will appear.

Check the box next to Turn Remote Management On to enable remote access.  The IP address that appears below this box is the address and port number you'll use to access the router remotely -- write this address down somewhere safe.  You can change the port number if you want to, but unless you have a good reason to, you should leave it set to 8080.

Now you have to choose who will have remote access to the router.  The three options (under Allow Remote Access By) are:

• Only the computer that you are currently using
• A specific range of IP addresses
• Anyone with Internet access

The first option is the most secure, but it's also the least flexible.  If you don't know what IP address or computer you'll be logging in to the router from, the third option is probably the best one.

Once you've set everything up the way you want it, click the Apply button below the settings.  It may take a minute for the router to reconfigure itself, during which time any computers connected to the router will be temporarily disconnected.  As soon as the new settings take effect, all connections will be restored.

(Originally published on Helium.com, February 2011)